zubaty



May 1, 1928. J. ZUBATY v LIGHTING MEANS FOR INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLIES Filed July 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1, 1528. 1,668,521

J. ZUBATY LIGHTING MEANS FOR INSTRUMENT-ASSEMBLIES Filed July 50, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May- 1, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH ZUBATY,

e 1,668,521 PATENT OFFICE.

OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGN'OR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, 01?

FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMPANY OF MICHIGAN.

LIGHTING- MEANS FOR INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLIES.

Application filed July 30, 1925. Serial No. 47,058.

The object of this invention is to provide a lighting means for an instrument assembly for automobiles which will give a soft indirect illumination of the indicating means or dials of the instruments in a manner to prevent glare and will also preferably afford a diffused lighting of a portion of the car such as the floor adjacent the drivers seat.

mission look, a point where lighting is much needed and which has been neglected in the past.

Specifically, my illun'iinating means has taken the form of a reflector disposed adjacent one of the instruments or between a plurality of instruments and provided with a customary light bulb. The specific form of reflector which I havepreferred touse is so shaped as to project light upon the instrument dials through apertures in the casings thereof, and also to project a portion of the light upon the floor of the car for general illumination. If desired the light supplied the instruments may be tinted by passing it through a suitably colored transparent medi- I have also preferably so designed my assembly as to permit the removal of the instruments Without disturbing the lighting means, or if the lighting means requires repair or adjustment this may be done without disturbing the mounting of the instruments.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved assembly;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Figure 3 is a section on the line,3-3 of Figure 2, parts being broken away;

Figure 4 is a section on lin'e4-4 of Fig- 1 Figure 5 is a rear elevation of a modified form;

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 5; and. l

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of a modified form.

I single casing 14 having a cover 15.

This latter arrangement pro vides for the illuminatlon of the usual trans any prefered manner the usual dash instruments, such as a speedometer 4, control switches 6, clock 8, oil gage l0, gasoline gage 11, and ammeter 12, the last four of which are preferably mounted in a The casing of the speedometer is indicated by the character 16 and its cover by the reference character 17. The instruments are preferably removably secured to the instrument panel by any preferred clamping means, an example of which is shown at '18.

Each of the covers 15 and 17 is provided with the usual aperture 22, 23, ordinarily glass covered, which is framed in an opening in the instrument panel in the usual manner.

()ver these apertures and beneath the usual glass are arranged, cover plates 24 and 26 having openings, as shown," for the display of the instrument dials indicated at 28. The cover plate 24 also carries upon its face the dial 230 for the clock 8. The cover plates may be secured in position in the covers by means of a plurality of clamping members or by annular clamping plates in the manner indicated at 25 Figure l. At the rear of the instrument panel the casings 14 and 16 are provided with apertures 32 and 34, the aper tures preferably being provided with covers 33 and respectively of transparent material to prevent the admission of dust. The apertures are so located as to permit the projection of light therethrough for the illumination of the dials at the rear of the cover plates 24 and 26. The coverplate 24 is also slotted as at 31 adjacent the'dial 30 to permit the passage of light for the illumination thereof. In order to prevent too great loss of light by absorption I have found it preferable to so treat the rear of the cover plates as well as the other parts of the interior of the instrument as to be efficient reflectors, either by painting them white, silvering them, or the. like.

My illuminating means is shown at 36 and preferably comprises a reflector in the form of a casing 38 secured to the instrument panel between the casings 14 and 16 and independently thereof and havingportions 40 conforming in shape and in size to the apertures 32 and 34 and fitting closely thereagainst. The casing 38 is also provided with a portion 42 projecting between the casings 14 and 16 through which light is thrown upon the floor of the automobile. A light bulb 44 is secured in the casing or reflector 38 in any suitable manner. I

It will now be apparent that part of the light from the bulb 44 will be projected by the reflector through the apertures 32 and 34 I into the casings l4 and 16 to the rear of the cover plates 24 and 26 and will. illuminate the dials, and in the case of the casing 14 some of the light will be emitted through the slot 31 adjacent the dial 30 and thus illuminatethe latter. Another portion of the light will be projected through the part 42 of the reflector downwardly upon the sides V of the instruments and the floor ofthe vehicle. To assist in the dispersion of this light and to avoid loss of light, the sides of the instrument casings may be treated to form reflecting surfaces.

By the use of colored media at 33 and 35 a tinted light may be thrown on the instruments. T he color may be chosen either with.

a viewto producing greater visibility or a more aesthetic appearance. If desired a transparent member 46, colored or uncolored, may be provided at the opening 42.

.It will also be apparent that with the construction described the instruments are in dividually reii'iovable without disturbing the 'specti vely, preferably having transparent coverings as before to prevent the admission of dust. Cooperating with these apertures 1s a light distributing dev ce, shown at 62 i. and comprising an arrangement of channels one of which, numbered 64, conducts light to the aperture 56, another, numbered 66, to the aperture 58, and another, numbered 68, to theaperture 60. At its central point" the light distributing device carries a light bulb 61 mounted in any preferred manner. The channels64 and 68 have openings 7 0 through which light is projected downwardly for general illumination, as in the preferred form. These openings may be covered Wlbll transparent media, if desired. As in the preceding form the transparent covers may, in each instance, be colored or uncolored, as desired. It isof course desirable, as in the preferred form, that the surfaces upon which the light rays are thrown in their passage to the points which it is desired to illuminate be painted White or otherwise convertedinto.

good reflecting surfaces in order to prevent losses by absorption.

With the construction shown in Figures sand 6 a part of the light passing through theapertures 56 and 60 consists of direct 'of the channels or tunnels 64 and68. A

large proportion of the reflected light reaches the apertures in the instrumenthousings only after multiple reflection from wall to wall of the tunnels. The purpose of this is to obviate shadows and obtain very uniform and diffused lighting of the instrument dials since the light comes from any directions instead of from. one. I

The form shown in Figure 7 differs from the preceding forms in that all of the instruments are mounted in a single casing 72. The lighting means, consisting of a reflector provided with a bulb 76 is mounted atone side thereof, and illuminates the instruments in the same manner as before. The reflector is apertured as at 78, forming a window for the projection of a portion of the light upon the floor. This aperture may be provided "with a transparent cover to exclude dust.

In the actual design of an instrument assembly embodying the above features it is essential that certainproportions of parts be observed; Thus referring again to Figure 3, the face plate 24 should be spaceda con'iparatively large distance from the dial indicated at 11 so that a considerable area of the rear; faceithereof will be in position to throw light upon the dial. Also, the area of the dial should be sufficiently greater than the -area ofthe opening as at 99 in the face. plate so that theinstrument asseinbly will present a finished appearance when viewed from any angle. To further improve the appearance of the assembly the inturned edges 101 of the face plate defining the open ing for the display of the dial should bespaced a comparatively small distance from the dial.

I claim v 1. In an automobile, the combination of I an instrument panel, an instrument ZLSSBIIP bly removably mounted thereon comprising a casing having an instrument therein pro vided with. indicating means, said casing having an aperture therein, a cover plate for said aperture provided with an opening, said. indicating means being arranged for dis play through said opening, and lighting.

means for the illumination of said indicating means, said casing being provided with a second aperture at the rear of said cover plate for the passage of light from the lighting means to the indicating means for the indirect illumination of thelatter.

2. Thestructure as defined by claim'l, said lighting means comprising a reflector independently mounted upon the instrument panel and shaped to direct light into said second named aperture, and a source of light.

associated with said reflector.

23. In an automobile, an instrument panel,

Leea n a plurality of instruments secured to said panel having indicating means for display upon said panel and comprising casings, portions of which project rearwardly oi? the panel, apertures in said portions of the casings, a reflector mounted upon the rear of said panel and between said instrun'ients, a source of light within the reflector, por: iions oi? said reflector titting the apertures in the casings for therprojection of light thorethrough for the illumination of the instruments, said reflector also being shaped to provide an opening between the apertures in the rearwardly projecting portions of the casings tor the projection of light downwardly between the instrument casings.

41-. An instrument assembly comprising a. casing, an instrument in the casing, said casinghaving an opening therein, a cover plate for said opening, a dial carried by said cover plate for cooperation with said instrument, said cover plate being apertured adjacent said dial, and illun'iinating means arranged to project light through said aperture l'rom the rear of said cover plate for the illumination of said dial.

5. An instrument assembly con'ipri-sing a casing, a plurality ot instruments in the casing, indicating means for one 01 said instruments, said casing having an opening :l'or the display of said indicating means, a cover plate r'or the opening, said plate being apertured tor the inspection of said indicating means, a dial carried by said cover plate for cooperation with another of said .inslrun'ients, said cover plate being provided with a slot adjacent said dial. and means for illuminating the indicating means from the rear of said cover plate, said illuminating means being adapted to project light through the slot for the illumination of the.

dial carried by the cover plate.

6. The combination of an instrument hav ing indicating means, said instrument including a casing having an aperture for the display of the indicating means, said casing being provided with a second aperture for the projection of light from without the easin upon the indicating means for rendering the latter visible through. said inspection aperture, and a source of light without the casing and mounted independently of the casing and adapted to project light through the socond-mnneiil aperture.

7. The combination of an instrument panel. an instrument mounted on the panel, said instrument comprising indicating means and a casing provided with an aperture for the display of the indicating means, and with a second aperture exposed at the rear oi. the panel, and a source of light concealed by the panel and arranged to project light through the second-named aperture to render the indicating means visible through said tirst-named aperture.

8. The combination of an instrument panel, an instrument mounted thereon, said instrument comprising indicating means and a casing, said casing being provided with an. aperture for the display of the indicating means and with another aperture exposed at the rear of the panel, transparentmedia covering said apertures and preventing the entrance of dust into the casing, and a source oi light mounted independently of the instrumcnt and concealed by the panel and arranged to project light through the second-named aperture for the indirect illumination of the indicating means.

9. The combination of an instrument panel, a 'ilurality of instruments mounted thereon, each oi said instruments eomprising indicating means and a casing having an aperture for the display of the indicating means and a second aperture positioned at the rear of the panel for the projection of light upon the indicating means, a light source concealed by the panel, said secondnamed aperture-s being arranged to permit passage of light from the source therethrough to the indicating means to render the latter visible when viewed through the first-named apertures.

10. The combination of an instrument having indicating means, a casing for the instrument havin an a )erture for the dis )lav of the indicating means, said casing being provided with a second aperture for the projecl ion of light from Without the casing upon the indicating means for rendering the latter visible through said inspection aperture, a source of light, and a reflector for conducting light from the source to the second-named aperture, said reflector being of elongated tunnel form causing multiple reflection of light from wall to wall producing unitormand dili' used illumination of the indicat ing means.

11. The combination of an instrument panel, a plurality of instruments mounted thereon, each 01 said instruments comprising indicating means and a casing having an aperture :tor the display of the indicating means and a second aperture positioned at the rear of the panel for the projection of light upon the indicating means, a light source concealed by the panel, said secondnamed apertures being arranged to permit passage of light from the source there through to the indicating means to render the latter visible when viewed through the first-named apertures, and reflectors for conducting light from the, source to the secondnamed apertures, said reflectors being of elongated tunnel form causing multiple reflection of light from wall to Wall producing uniform and diffused illumination of the indicating means.

12. In an automobile, the combination of an instrument panel, an instrument mounted ill) said second-named aperture producing dit- V thereon, said instrumentcompirsing indicatmg means and a caslng, said casing belng provided with an aperture for the display of" the indicating means and with another aperture exposed at the rear of the panel, transparent media covering said apertures and preventing the entrance of dust into the easing, a source of light mounted independently of the instrument and. concealed by the panel and arranged to project light through the second-named aperture for the indirect illumination of the indicating means, a reflector for conducting light from the source to the second-named aperture, and an aperture in said reflector for directing light to other parts of the vehicle,

13. The combination of an instrument panel, an instrument mounted on the panel, said instrument comprising indicating means and a casing, said casing being provided fused illumination of the indicating means,

14. The combination of an instrument panel, a plurality of instruments mounted on the panel, said instruments each comprising indicating means and a casing, each casing having an aperture for the display of the indicating means and a second aperture positioned for the projection of light upon the indicating-means, a ligl'it'source, and a reflector associated withthe light source and cooperating with each of said second-named apertures for producingdiflused illumination of the instruments. 1

15. The combination of an instrument panel, a plurality of instruments mounted thereon, each of said instruments comprising indicating means and a casing having an aperture for the display of the indicating means and'a second aperture positioned at the rear of the panel for the projection of light upon the indicating means, a light source concealed by the panel, said secondnamed apertures being arranged to permit passage of light from the source therethrough to the indicating means to render the latter'visible when viewed through the first named apertures, and a reflector common to said second named apertures and said light source for effecting soft and diffused illumination of the indicating means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' JOSEPH ZUBATY. 

